The HSUS Praises La. Senate for Cracking Down on Cockfighting Boosters

Julia Breaux Melancon, Louisiana state director for The Humane Society of the United States, issued the following statement after the Louisiana Senate voted 36 to 2 in support of S.B. 38, a bill sponsored by Sen. Danny Martiny, R- Kenner, which would make it illegal to be a spectator at a cockfight:

"The Louisiana Senate has made it clear that our state will not be a refuge for anyone who is involved in cockfighting, including those who attend the matches. Admission fees make cockfighting profitable, and we need to stop this crime at its source. We encourage the House of Representatives to quickly pass S.B. 38 so that police can prosecute everyone who attends these gruesome spectacles."

Facts:

Cockfighting itself is a crime in all 50 states.

Animal fighting spectators are willing participants in this crime, and also perpetuate it by paying admission fees and wagering on the fights.

Common cockfighting practices include breeding birds for viciousness, drugging them to heighten aggression, and fitting their legs with razor-sharp knives or gaffs, which resemble curved ice picks.

Law enforcement raids across the country have revealed that cockfights, which are frequently attended by children, often involve firearms and other weapons due to the large amounts of cash present for gambling.

Law enforcement officials have documented a strong connection between cockfighting and the distribution of illegal drugs.

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